Bipartisan Legislation to Fully Repeal Marijuana Prohibition Passed Through First Reading in Hawaii Senate
Hawaii’s Senate has passed through its first reading a measure that would fully repeal marijuana prohibition.
Senate Bill 702 was filed by Senator Kalani English along with six bipartisan cosponsors. The measure was introduced on January 18, and was passed through its first reading yesterday. The measure must be passed through two more readings, and by the House of Representatives, before it can go to David Ige for consideration.
The legislation “Repeals criminal prohibitions and penalties pertaining to marijuana”, effectively legalizing it throughout the state and ending the decades-long prohibition on the plant. The full text of the measure can be found by clicking here.
A separate measure that “Legalizes the personal use, possession, and sale of marijuana in a specified quantity” and “Requires licensing to operate marijuana establishments” was also passed through its first reading today. That proposal is Senate Bill 686.